Declining rates of knee arthroscopy in a US population

medwireNews: Rates of knee arthroscopy in Florida have decreased in recent years, study findings indicate.

As reported in a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine, 868,482 arthroscopic knee operations were performed in the state between 2002 and 2015, the majority (81%) of which were meniscectomies.

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The age- and sex-adjusted rate of all arthroscopic procedures declined significantly over the study period, from 449 procedures per 100,000 adults in 2002 to 345 per 100,000 adults in 2015, says David Howard (Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA).

Meniscectomy rates also declined significantly over the study period, but significantly more knee replacements were carried out in 2015 than in 2002, at rates of 244 versus 170 per 100,000 adults.

“The results suggest that the accumulating evidence on the lack of benefit associated with knee arthroscopy, compared with medical management, has altered treatment decisions,” writes the study author. He notes, however, that “[d]espite the lower use rates, knee arthroscopy is still a common procedure.”

And Howard concludes: “There may be additional opportunities to reduce the use of knee arthroscopy without adversely affecting patient outcomes.”